Local SEO For Your Small Business: What You Need to Know
In addition to guest posting on the UpCity blog, TheeDigital is featured as one of the Top Web Design Agencies in the United States. Check out their profile!
Generating leads and sales are the two main goals of marketing a business of any size. Traditional methods of marketing are not going to work like they once did as an ad in the phonebook used to be enough. While some of these methods still convert, there are far easier and more efficient ways to market online.
Google Searches can change the trajectory of a local business if ranking at the top of local search results. Most people will sort by location or rating of a business. You need SEO for your business as search engines are what consumers rely on to find products and services.
Ranking at the top of search results truly matters for a local business. Some consumers might assume that the top ranking is due to the quality of a business rather than the quality of their marketing team. Hiring the right digital marketing agency can allow you to reap the benefits of organic leads being created via search engine results.
Consistently Generate Leads
Companies might want to work with other companies that provide marketing or manufacturing services. Ranking at the top of local search results might be far easier for a small town than a large city. Most people flock to Google when searching for a local business. Signage can be important, but an online presence is going to generate more traffic to your business.
An HVAC company that needs leads needs to focus on local SEO before targeting larger areas. Even targeting large neighborhoods can be a tactic to generate more referrals and leads. Most people call friends or family members when they need a home service professional.
Competitors Investing Can Be Difficult to Overcome
If a competitor is investing thousands per month on digital marketing while others don’t invest at all, there could be a huge difference in the number of online leads. Referrals should also be noted when generating leads as several small business owners would be happy to refer business to a company they can swear by. Consistent investment even in tactics that don’t convert very well will overpower those companies that do not invest month after month.
Looking at competitor metrics of their website and where they are ranking for certain keywords is imperative. You can mimic their marketing approach to find easy opportunities but should change the strategy up a bit. A larger budget is not impossible to overcome as clever marketing can be worth its weight in gold.
Hear From Industry Experts
Read the latest tips, research, best practices, and insights from our community of expert B2B service providers.
Rank At The Top of Search Engines
Ranking in the top few results in the local area is enough. Most people will not go through more than a few results before clicking on a website. Expanding a local business becomes far easier when dominating the search results. You could even target areas that you plan to expand to get a head start. This is frequently done by real estate agents that want to expand to areas with higher home values.
Manage Online Reviews
Online reviews need to be managed appropriately as some people might have had a less than stellar experience. Remedying this can salvage a relationship with the customer and potentially convince them to improve their review. Most people just want to be acknowledged when they have had a bad experience. A discount is always recommended as people want to save if they are to use a business again. Social media should also be monitored for reviews as this can be a great example of customer service to other customers that follow the account. Remember that not all reviews are true as competitors might have their employees leave fake reviews.
Publishing/Sponsoring Content on Local Digital Publications
Creating content for local publications can be immensely beneficial as it can drive leads. Building local backlinks is always going to be important as the target audience of the publication aligns with your target demographic of customers. Local sponsored events are also another way to gain public favor and will likely gain coverage in local print, online, and television avenues.
Digital marketing for local businesses is going to become more important. There is a new way to market that will help maximize the ways that local businesses acquire business. Do not discount how much digital marketing and especially a focus on local SEO will help grow your business today.
About the author
Richard Horvath
Richard is the founder and CEO of TheeDigital, an award-winning web design and full-service internet marketing agency in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Boston, MA. He built his first website in 1999. His team, not only builds high-converting websites but also provides effective SEO and PPC campaign management for ambitious businesses.
